November 2007 New Toys — Musical Toys

Bontempi - Sing-A-Long Teaching Organ by INTEGRATED GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC.

Award winning 32 key teaching organ speaks and prompts the player. By pushing the big red buttons the player can switch between learning to play a song and learning their colors! With songs, 7 instruments, 7 rhythms and 7 interactive games this instrument will keep a child (or adult) involved for hours. Records and plays back what a child has played (up to 24 notes). Stool and microphone are supplied. 9/10/2007

Bontempi - Teaching Drum Set by INTEGRATED GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC.

Unique teaching tutors’ lights and impulses guide player to hit drums and cymbals in unison with the music. Terrific first foray into the world of percussion instruments! Supplied with tutor, base drum, three side drums, two cymbals, stool and drum sticks. 9/10/2007

Bob McGrath Rhythm Band Set by RHYTHM BAND INSTRUMENTS LLC

This eight-piece set includes rhythm sticks, a tambourine, finger cymbals, maracas, sand blocks, a triangle, a drum and a wood block, as well as a play-along CD. 8/29/2007 (Price: $39.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Schoenhut® 15-String Harp by SCHOENHUT PIANO COMPANY

At 27 inches high, this wooden, lightweight instrument is designed with curved sides with a spacious box, along with a range of 15 notes (from C to C), permitting a wide variety of music in melodic tones. Fully tunable by using the wrench to adjust zither pins. 8/29/2007 (Price: $144.60) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

5 PIECE DRUM SET by SCHOENHUT PIANO COMPANY

The perfect instrument for a JUNIOR ROCK STAR. Delivers great sound and incorporates many of the same features as a full-sized professional drum set. Built to last, constructed of high-quality hardwood shells and sturdy chrome-plated steel hardware.  8” Mounted Tom Drum & 10" Mounted Snare Drum, tunable w/ precision, adjustable, double-braced mounting arm 16” Bass Drum, tunable w/ two stabilizers for adjustable angle 10" Crash/Ride Cymbal, tunable, adjustable, Bass Drum Pedal, adjustable spring action Assembly required. Includes: Easy set-up instructions w/ illustrations, adjustable padded foam seat, tuning key, drum sticks. 8/28/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Singing Bird by TOY SCI COMPANY

From her perch, this colorful bird sings a song and moves along with the tune. 8/17/2007

Medium Handle-Leg Connectors™ w/Sound Shapes® by REMO

Kids will have fun building and playing with the colorful and great-sounding Handle-Leg Connectors. Educators can use the connectors to help children learn dynamically in a unique, hands-on way, turning otherwise typical education curriculum into a multi-sensory learning experience. “Lincoln Logs, Legos and Erector Sets are classic fun educational toys. Handle-Leg Connectors with Sound Shapes have the similar building qualities, but they also have the unique quality of making music,” REMO Inc. Marketing & Media Coordinator Sue Kincade told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2006. 8/13/2007 (Price: $226.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rock-a-Bye Baby Musical Rub a Dub™ Book by THE STRAIGHT EDGE INC.

Bath time has never been so enjoyable. The musical book features a pressure-sensitive melody module that is heat-sealed into the cover and plays music when a child presses the red circle. An adorable baby panda illustrates the classic bedtime song. The 5-1/2" square book contains the lyrics to the first verse to encourage word recognition and pre-reading skills. “Our waterproof bath books are musical!” The Straight Edge Inc. owner Amy Kallman Epstein told TDmonthly. “Music not only has been found to encourage cognitive skill development in young children, but it also is a wonderful distraction for a cranky toddler.” Launch date: July 2007. 8/13/2007 (Price: $6.99)

Beginner's Harmonica by HOHNER

This harmonica plays a full eight-note octave with only four holes; each hole produces two different notes. The large and widely-spaced holes make it easy to product single tones, and note names are printed on top of the harmonica. 8/13/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wooden Music Maker by EUROPEAN EXPRESSIONS

Children can easily make music on this solid wood instrument by sliding a song sheet under the strings and plucking the string above each note. It comes with tuner pick, a spare wire and 12 songs, including “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Rock-a-Bye Baby.”
— “The Music Maker is really popular,” said Steve Ellerhoff, manager at Finnegan's Toys and Gifts in Portland, Ore. Ellerhoff was part of a January 2010 survey of 48 retailers concerning their best-selling musical items.
— “The Music Maker, made by European Expressions, is popular because it's a no-brainer musical instrument,” Steve Shelton, owner of Magical Moon Toys in Logan, Utah, told TDmonthly in early 2010.  “[Kids] can follow along right out of the box.”
― “One day we got in six, and sold three the first hour they were in the store,” said Mary Sisson, co-owner of Kazoodles in Vancouver, Wash. (see her talk about the Music Maker in the attached video). ( Watch Video) 8/8/2007 (Price: $31.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Maywa Denki Knockman by CUBE CO. LTD.

Maywa Denki is an artistic and musical act first made popular in Japan. The KnockMan figures are part of the original act. Move his left arm up and down to wind up the spring and he will start knocking his head. Turn his right arm and he will knock other KnockMan's head. Each character plays only one instrument, which you can see played because of the simple design. They're 10 cm tall and don't need batteries to work their magic.
— "KnockMan from Maywa Denki — the ones with band member figures....by a Japanese musician," said Luke Rook, owner of Lulubell Toy in Tucson, Ariz., when asked by TDmonthly about best-selling musical toys in his store. 8/7/2007 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Kazoo by SCHYLLING

The World Famous Schylling Kazoo is made of tin, comes in a variety of colors and designs, and is packaged in Schylling's distinctive boxes. It's a colorful and affordable way to keep kids humming to their favorite tunes.
— "Given that we're called Kazoodles, we do sell a lot of kazoos," said Mary Sisson, owner of Kazoodles in Vancouver, Wash., about the Schylling Kazoos being bought up by her customers.
― About 10 kazoos get to go home with children each month, said Karen Park, owner of Zaks Gifts in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass. 8/7/2007 (Price: $1.99)